Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-03-10

in Iorrington square, Bloomsbury; but
in his calmer moments he reflected thai
at least he was occupying q different
position from that of the rest of his fel
low-clerks.
The chief man in Turin, so far as
Hodgson, Dunford and Parr were con-
cerned, was certain Count Marsoni.
The counts nobility did not prevent
his being the principal member of a
large firm of merchants and shipown-
ers. To cultivate this man was, in
deed, the chief reason of Mr.. Hodgson's
journey to Turin; and as the old bank
er knew very we'll how to lay aside his
crusty and pompous manner when it
suited his book to do so, he soon came
to be not unfrequent guest at the Viii
la Morsoni.
Mr.. Hodgson began to see that there
was very fair opening for an English
bank at Turin, and he was still engaged
in pushing his way here and there,
when he received news that his wife
was seriously i'll. This made him hur-
ry off to England, leaving Mathers be-
hind him to complete a transaction
which he had already practically ar
ranged.
Delighted at being left to represent
the firm, for ever so short time, and
ever SO formal Il matter, Mathers was
pacing one day down the principal
street of the city with look of consid-
cradle Importance on his face when he
met Count MarsonI. The Count stop
ped and asked after the old banker, when
Tommy proudly informed him that he
had returned to England, leaving him in
charge of the affairs of the firm.
"Ah, indeed! Well, there's a little
matter wanted to speak of to him."
Il shall be happy to serve you,
Count, said Tommy in his very best
Italian
We'll, suppose you dine with us to-
night and we can talk it over after din
ner?" returned the Count, who thought
he ought to show Il little attention to
the lonely EngllShman.
Of course, the invitation was accept
ed, and Tommy had no sooner entered
the drawingroom at the Villa Marsoni
than he lost his heart at once, irrevoca-
bly, and forever. Maria Marsoni was,
indeed, beautiful and vivacious enough
to turn the head of wiser and colder
blooded man than Tommy Mathers;
and 50 ready was he to amuse her by
his efforts to speak language that he
partially knew. that he won more favor
in the maiden's eyes than many amore
brilliant talker would have done. Such
an impression, indeed, d ID the signori-
ma bright eyes make upon Tommy's
susceptible heart that he was barely
able to give due attention to the count,
when, after dinner he began to talk of
bills, discount, mortgages and deben-
lures.
Time went on; Mr. Hodgson did not
return to Turn, and Mr.. Mathers paid
several visits to the Counts residence.
coming away more in love every time.
Meanwhile. by dint of going about con-
'tinually among the citizens, the young
man was able to send home so good a
list of prospective customers that the
partners determined to establish
branch office at Turin, and offer young
Mathers a subordinate post in it.
Nothing definite, however. had been
fixed, when one day Tommy, finding
Maria Marsoni alone when he called at
the villa, lost his head completely, and
was making love as well us his imper-
feet knowledge of Italian permitted,
when the Count. suddenly coming in.
caught him in the act of kissing his
daughters hand.
Maria fled like hare disturbed on her
form, and the Co mt advanced with
heavy frown on his aristocratic brow.
More as n matter of form than any
thing else, for he knew his case was
hopeless, Mathers formally asked the
hand of signorina in marriage. laying
the blame of his irregular declaration
on the strength of his passion and his
ignorance of Ital an etiquette.
The Count heard him to the end, and
then surveyed him from head to foot
with look of contempt.
ut S piece of gross presumption
in you-a mere clerk, a nobody-to adj
dress my daughter" said the Count at
1oS IN, Oh Il, Al
"Of course said Tommy. bitterly,
stung by the Counts look. If were
a partner of HOdgson's, though, you
would give me a different answer
IF you were partner in Messrs.
Hodgson, Dunford & PARIS" said the
Count, with an altered expression,
THAT would make a difference of
course; but as do not understand that
you have any prospect of entering that
firm, do not see how that affects YOU"
Tommy sighed, and made his escape
as soon as possible. He knew that
he might as well ask for the Lord
Chan celorship as ask for partnership
in the bank.
For two days he rema ned in a state
of collapse and then received advices
from London informing him of the de-
| cision to which the firm had come with
respect to the new branch. A few
months before Mathers would have
been transported with delight at the
proposal which the firm made to him;
but now he considered that he was get
ting barely his due, and, besides. he
was so badly cut with respect to the
beautiful Maria that mere commercial
matters d d hot possess their usual in
terest for him.
Suddenly, as he sat with the open
letter bearing the well known signature
before him, Tommy conceived an idea.
Without a moments delay he called
for his bill at the hotel, sent a waiter
for cab. and took the first train north
ward. He arrived at Victoria early in
tie morning, went TO a hotel, washed
| ap1 bin,,nIf ,.l